Press review: Led Zeppelin – Liverpool   

After one cancellation and numerous “they are returning” rumours, Led Zeppelin stormed into Liverpool on Monday evening.

The city is used to crowds. Only the previous evening 650,000 had turned out to welcome the football team from Wembley, and in comparison a gathering of 1,900 may seem like a drop in the ocean. But the 1,900 fans were crammed into  Liverpool’s University – standing on window ledges, sitting in every available inch of floor space with not even the breathing space the Kopites had.

But was it worth it? Do Led Zeppelin get the hysterical response  that they receive because they are still leading or because they are the band once acclaimed to be the greatest rock band alive?

Their performance on Monday was, in parts, electrifying; “Since I’ve Been Loving You”, “Dazed & Confused”, and “Whole Lotta Love” – the trademarks of Led Zeppelin and the audience’s favourites – showed what Led Zeppelin are all about.

They gave a new meaning to “It’ll Be Me” and “Mess of Blues”. Although two of their newer numbers – a real rocker “Black Dog” and the slow “Stairway to Heaven” came over well, it wasn’t what the audience wanted.

“Gallup Pole” [sic] was what they chanted and what they got, just when Zeppelin were trying to introduce a more subtle sound. (- B. Drillsha, May  1971)